NetLedger Inc., an ASP that offers Web-based customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications, today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Sydney-based service provider Net Return to offer NetSuite in Australia.

"Net Return will be our arm in Australia," Zach Nelson, president and CEO of NetLedger, told ASPnews. Net Return will host the Netledger application and act as a NetLedger distributor targeting reseller channels in Australia, Nelson said. He added that the $99 per user, per month has been set jointly by the two companies.

San Mateo, Calif-based NetLedger will localize the software, Nelson said, addressing issues such as differences in statutory tax models and reporting mechanisms. It will also configure the user interface to make changes in language and usage.

The effort in Australia is the second international initiative that NetLedger has undertaken. Last fall, it entered into an agreement with U.K telecom giant BT. Under the terms of that agreement, NetSuite will be available in July through BT startup Open Orchard. (See NetLedger Takes Apps Overseas.)

Nelson said the Australia market includes about "200,000 to 300,000 companies in the small and medium business space. It's smaller than U.K. market." He said it expects the NetSuite Australian localized version to be complete and available in September or October.

Like NetLedger, Net Return has strong ties with Oracle. The company is majority-owned and managed by Stuart McLean and Phil Kiely,
former Oracle senior executives. Nelson and NetLedger chairman Evan Goldberg are also former Oracle executives.